Many of us involved in politics and governance have long appreciated the absolutely vital role that social care plays as a key partner to the NHS.
For others, the pandemic revealed just how essential social care is for our society.
Overnight, the people of the UK recognised the incredible contribution that care workers make – including in the most dangerous of situations.
As such, I was delighted when the SNP government – which until that point had nothing of note to say about social care or the workforce – announced it would seek to legislate for a National Care Service.
The idea of a National Care Service to lift standards and support the workforce was first developed by Scottish Labour over a decade ago – while Nicola Sturgeon was adamantly opposed to the plan at the time, I was very encouraged to watch her Damascene conversion to the cause of reform.
But as the excitement dissipated, it became clear that what the SNP really had in mind was not the National Care Service that Scotland needed.
Rather than transforming culture, the SNP focused on structures, and rather than focusing on improving staff conditions, the SNP focused on spin.
Instead of listening to the workforce and the trade unions, the SNP spent a fortune on consultancy firms.
And the resulting plan was nothing more than a power grab from local councils that would do nothing for the workforce, make little impact on care standards and completely fail to reform the sector as needed.
What the SNP offered us was nothing more than a National Centralisation Service which will do nothing to support those receiving care or help the workforce.
Fresh from months of defending the bill to the hilt, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf was more than happy to concede the need to put the bill on the backburner as part of his SNP leadership election.
The resulting plan was nothing more than a power grab from local councils that would do nothing for the workforce
It seems that the prospect of career advancement is enough to make any SNP spokesperson perform an about-turn on just about any issue.
And while this bill is stuck in legislative limbo, thousands of Scots are still paying through the nose for non-residential care charges that the SNP promised to scrap years ago.
For the workforce – much applauded, but little rewarded – nothing has changed. Instead, the SNP has time and again lined up with the Tories to vote against Labour proposals to boost their pay.
Scotland’s care workers and those for whom they care do not need promises of jam tomorrow – they need reform now.
That’s why Labour remains committed to real and meaningful reform of the care sector, giving it equal value to the NHS, which will also help to tackle the crisis in our NHS.
Reform that puts workers and those receiving care before government mandarins and consultancy firms.
Reform that can change lives and build a solid foundation for looking after the most in need in our society.
While the SNP turn their gaze inwards, it is the Scottish Labour party that is listening to care workers and planning the care sector of tomorrow.